Research

Major Scientific Interests: Combustion diagnostics, in-situ analysis of reactive systems

Katharina Kohse-Höinghaus is internationally known for her contributions to combustion diagnostics using laser spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Besides combustion chemistry, her research is devoted to the deposition of functional materials from the gas phase and the in-situ analysis of reactive systems.

Seminal contributions include the quantitative detection of reactive intermediates in combustion, the development of models for energy transfer in small radicals and the investigation of the formation mechanisms of pollutants in the combustion of conventional and bio-derived fuels.

Furthermore, she is a pioneer of science outreach activities in Germany and founded one of the first science laboratories for schools.

Career

• since 1994 Professor for Physical Chemistry at University of Bielefeld, Germany
• 1992 Habilitation, University of Stuttgart, Germany
• 1979-1994 Permanent Scientific Staff member, Group Leader since 1988, at the German Aerospace Center DLR, Stuttgart, Germany
• 1978 Doctorate at University of Bochum, Germany
• 1970-1975 Education in Chemistry (Diploma) at University of Bochum, Germany

Functions

• 2012-2016 President of The Combustion Institute (International umbrella organization of national combustion societies)
• 2012 Member of the German Council of Science and Humanities
• 2008-2013 Member of the Senate of the Hermann von Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres
• 2007-2013 Member of the International Advisory Board of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany
• 2007-2013 Member of the Senate and Joint Committee of the German Research Foundation
• 2007-2008 President of the German Bunsen Society for Physical Chemistry, 2009-2010: Vice President
• 2004-2012 Member of the Selection Committee of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Deputy Chair since 2009, Germany
• 2004-2010 Editor in Chief for "Combustion and Flame"
• 2002-2014 Member of the Board of Directors of The Combustion Institute
• 2002-2012 Member of the Board of Trustees of the Volkswagen Foundation

Honours and Memberships

• since 2021 Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
• 2020 Walther-Nernst-Denkmünze of the Deutsche Bunsengesellschaft
• 2020 Heilbronner-Hückel Vorlesung 2020 by the Swiss Chemical Society
• 2020 President’s Distinguished Scientists International Fellowship 2020 of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
• 2018  Alfred C. Egerton Gold medal of the Combustion Institute
• since 2017 Member of the European Academy of Sciences
• since 2017 Honorary Senator of the University of Bielefeld
• since 2017 Member of the Nordrhein-Westfälische Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Künste
• 2016 International Science and Technology Cooperation Award of the People's Republic of China
• 2016 National Friendship Award of the People’s Republic of China
• 2016 Award for International Scientific Cooperation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
• since 2016 Member of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences
• since 2015 Member of acatech – German Academy of Science and Engineering
• 2012 Advisory Professorship at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
• 2012 Wilhelm Jost Lecture of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities and the German Bunsen Society for Physical Chemistry
• 2011 “Distinguished Woman in Chemistry/Chemical Engineering”, 2011 year of chemistry celebration, awarded by International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
• since 2008 Member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
• 2008 Award of an Honorary Guest Professorship, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei
• 2007 Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany awarded by Federal President Horst Köhler
• 2006 Fellow of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
• 2002 Awards of the Public Understanding of Sciences and Humanities (PUSH) Program of the Stifterverband for the German Science
• 2000 Awards of the Public Understanding of Sciences and Humanities (PUSH) Program of the Stifterverband for the German Science
• 1993 Baetjer Lectures, School of Applied and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, USA